Vaccines and Autism

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) acknowledges that autism is a serious condition that has profound effects on a child and the child's family. Further research is needed to better understand the cause of autism spectrum disorders and the most effective treatments. Meanwhile, the AAP is supporting its pediatricians with knowledge about autism screening and current approaches to therapy, through resources such as the Autism Toolkit.

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims today found the scientific evidence is "overwhelmingly contrary" to the theory that MMR vaccine and thimerosal in vaccines is linked to autism. This decision is in keeping with the numerous medical studies that have been performed worldwide. The AAP hopes the determination by the Special Masters will reassure parents that vaccines do not cause autism.

For immediate release: January 28, 2008
              
CHICAGO - The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is demanding ABC cancel the opening episode of “Eli Stone” scheduled for Thursday, January 31. As reported in The New York Times, the episode features a lawyer who argues in court that a vaccine caused a child’s autism. While the show includes statements that science has refuted any link between autism and vaccines, the episode’s conclusion delivers a contrary impression; the jury awards the mother $5.2 million, leaving audiences with the destructive idea that vaccines do cause autism.

“A television show that perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism is the height of reckless irresponsibility on the part of ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Co.,” said Renee R. Jenkins, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP. “If parents watch this program and choose to deny their children immunizations, ABC will share in the responsibility for the suffering and deaths that occur as a result. The consequences of a decline in immunization rates could be devastating to the health of our nation’s children.”

No scientific link has been found between vaccines and autism. The AAP and other health organizations will continue to work to ensure the safety of childhood vaccines.

For accurate information on autism, immunization and other child health topics, visit the AAP’s Web site, http://www.aap.org.

In addition, the CDC responded:

·        CDC is fully committed to the health and well-being of children. Our highest priority is to protect the health of children and to ensure that all children can live, play and learn to their fullest potential.  We have learned a lot about the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and have improved efforts to track the disorders, but we still don’t know a lot about the causes of ASDs. Scientists think that both genes and the environment play a role, and there might be many causes that lead to ASDs.  We simply don't know what causes most cases of autism, but we're doing everything we can to find out.

·        There is no convincing evidence that the low concentrations of thimerosal in vaccines have caused any harm other than minor reactions such as redness or swelling at the injection site.  The vast majority of science, conducted in the U.S. and around the world, does not support an association between thimerosal in vaccines and autism. As a precautionary measure designed to help reduce children's exposure to mercury from all sources, the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers agreed in July 1999 that thimerosal should be reduced or eliminated from vaccines, one of the few sources where such action could be taken.

·        Today, with the exception of some influenza (flu) vaccines, none of the vaccines used in the U.S. to protect preschool children against 14 infectious diseases contain thimerosal as a preservative.  Many vaccines, including the Measles-Mumps-Rubella and chickenpox vaccine never contained thimerosal, and there brands of influenza vaccine that are thimerosal preservative-free.

·        For more information about autism, go to CDC.gov/autism